Veterans Day, all gave some... Some gave all!

ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL!

If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say you love them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.
And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace the gentle heroes that you left behind.

Maj. Michael O’Donnell
KIA March 24, 1970 –Dak To, Vietnam

We should remember that “Freedom Is Not Free”
Some of us paid the price, and some of us are still paying to this day.

My Daily Prayer,
God, please bless all of our American servicemen and women especially those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and those serving in countries where people would seek to harm them.
Please grant them peace of mind, peace in their hearts, clarity of vision, clarity of mind, and quick physical reactions. Please give them good cold drinks, hot food that tastes good, and a warm and safe comfortable place to sleep.

We ask all of these blessings in the name of your son Jesus Christ amen.
Warmest Regards, Sgt. Frank M. Carrio

A Soldiers Lament: A Poem Worth Reading

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
For ol’ Joe has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won’t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won’t note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:

“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.”

If you are proud of our Veterans, then send this to them. You’ll be glad you did!

To all our soldiers…Thank you for your service!
End Quote:

{This was posted in…Armed Services Mutual Benefit Association STAR Foundation ([FONT=Arial]www.asmbastarfoundation.com](http://www.asmbastarfoundation.com/)[/FONT]) military charity network. LDEC is an IRS tax-exempt 501 © (3) serving disabled veterans in their immediate area.}

Thanks Frank.

I would like to remember Marine GySgt David Spicer KIA July 13 2009 OEF Helmand Province Afghanistan and PFC Steve Stevens KIA June 22 2012 OEF Helmand Province Afghanistan. These men gave everything and selflessly protected their fellow warriors. There isn’t a day that goes by that they don’t cross my mind. While I am left with their memory I am forever humbled for knowing them. It was these men an the thousands of other WIA and KIA that allow me to appreciate what I have today, I made it out alive and I am forever grateful to them. Happy Veterans Day to all veterans.

Amen Frank. God Bless our U.S. veterans.

And on this day, if you have it in your heart, also say a prayer for both the uniformed and civilian men, women and children around the world who have been held in captivity, tortured, wounded, and/or killed in the course of fighting to defend or recapture the national sovereignty of their homelands.

Happy Veterans Day to ALL patriots around the world.

*Fight from your beaches, fight from your landing grounds, fight from your fields, fight from your streets, fight from your hills, and never surrender. Fight to the death even after there is no hope of victory, for it is better to perish than to live on your land if it rumbles under a trespasser’s tank tracks. **

  • inspired from several Winston Churchill quotes.

very cool.

Frank,

I read that prayer every year. Thanks for posting it & remembering our fallen Hero’s & your fallen Brother.

I wish all Veterans & their families a happy & safe Veterans Day & would like to thank all of them for the freedoms we enjoy.

Thank you Frank.

Happy Veterans Day Frank.

Very nice Frank.

Happy Veterans Day!

First I like to say many thanks to; Nick, Mike A., Kevin, Mike L., Marcel, And Tim. For your kind responses and heartfelt comments.

James,
*I have provided to “links” that provide more information on the deaths of your two friends. *
http://www.marineeod.com/gysgt-david-spicer.html
http://sgt-jim.blogspot.com/2012/06/rip-pfc-steven-p-stevens-ii.html
All I can say is “I feel your pain”. Like you I am a “Combat Veteran” and I lost many, many friends in Vietnam. I think about them each and every day and dream of them each and every night. For the last 10+ years I have been going to the VA hospital for medical treatment and injections at least twice a month. During my hospital visits/medical treatments I have had the honor and privilege to speak to many World War II and Korean “combat veterans”. I asked many of them “if the dreams ever stop”. Their answer? No! I have talked to veterans who stormed the beaches on D-Day and others who fought at “Frozen Chosin” Reservoir in Korea. All of them said the same thing…… The memories will never go away and “The Dreams” will never stop!
All we can do is “live our lives” with some honor and dignity and to try not to disgrace ourselves and the memory of our fallen brothers!
I say this prayer 2 to 3 times each day.
*God, please bless all of our American servicemen and women especially those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and those serving in countries where people would seek to harm them. *
Please grant them peace of mind, peace in their hearts, clarity of vision, clarity of mind, and quick physical reactions. Please give them good cold drinks, hot food that tastes good, and a warm and safe comfortable place to sleep where they won’t be in fear of, or in danger of losing their lives.

We ask all of these blessings in the name of your son Jesus Christ amen.

{PS: If any of you have a chance take the time and trouble to see the HBO series “Pacific”. It is on today. Although it depicts fighting during World War II it will give you a realistic picture of what the World War II veterans and Vietnam veterans who endured “jungle fighting” had to go through.}

Amen. :slight_smile:

Frank, every year you help us remember. Thank you, and all the others, for you service.

Semper Fi!

Thank You Vets !

An Extra Thank You to family and friends:

Thank You to my dad and his brothers: James P. McGrail, William M. McGrail, Thomas D. McGrail
Thank You to my brothers: Micheal P. McGrail, William E. McGrail, Patrick J. McGrail
Thank You to all my fellow brothers of the 1/18th F.A. 7th Corps

There will always be a spot in my heart that NEVER can fade for my brothers in arms.

A brotherhood that can not be broken.